Commemorative concert for Fong Fei-fei planned

Staff writer, with CNA

Sat, Jan 05, 2013 - Page 5

A concert in memory of the late Taiwanese pop legend Fong Fei-fei (鳳飛飛) is to be held in Taipei in March, organizers said on Thursday on the first anniversary of the diva’s death.

Singer Harlem Yu (庾澄慶) has agreed to perform at the concert, said Lee Ming-chih (李明智), general manager of Da Da Arts Promotion Co, which had organized concerts for her since 2003.

Singer Tiger Huang (黃小琥) and visually impaired performer Ricky Hsiao (蕭煌奇) were trying to fit the concert into their schedules, while other singers, including Hong Kong star Andy Lau (劉德華), have been invited to perform, Lee said.

In addition to the commemorative concert, Lee said, he is seeking to nominate Fong for a Golden Melody Lifetime Achievement Award this year.

At a press conference for the concert, Fong’s 23-year-old son, Zhao Wen-lin, said via video conferencing that his mother — who kept a low public profile — had expressed a wish before her death not to trouble anyone with any type of commemorative event.

However, Zhao, Fong’s only child, said it was very difficult for him to continue to decline such offers because he understands the “earnest expectations” of his mother’s faithful fans.

Fong’s attorney, Chiang Yen-wei (江燕偉), who announced the news of Fong’s death last year on behalf of the family, presented Lee with a hat that Fong had worn at her last press conference.

It is symbolic of the belief that Fong’s music will live on, Chiang said.

Fong died of lung cancer on Jan. 3 last year in Hong Kong at the age of 58.

The commemorative concert is scheduled to take place on March 30 at the Taipei International Convention Center.

Ticket sales started on Thursday evening, the organizers said, adding that the proceeds will be donated to child welfare organizations.

Also on Thursday, more than 300 of Fong’s fans gathered outside a Buddhist temple in her hometown in Taoyuan County’s Dasi Township (大溪), where her ashes have been placed, calling for a permanent memorial hall to be built in commemoration of the pop diva.